Enhance your next interview experience!
Congratulations! You’ve just landed an interview for a great job. It’s a fit in terms of your skills, experience, and career goals, and you can’t wait to get in there and wow your potential employers during the interview. Although you are excited, don’t let your emotions get the best of you. Thoughtfully prepare for the interview. Do your research and get ready to explain to the interviewers how you can do the job effectively and why you’re a good fit for the role and company overall. But don’t stop there! Consider how you can present your skills in a relevant and comprehensive way, maximize your focus and active listening skills during the interview, and illustrate how you will add value to the role and organization overall.
read moreWhy should I hire you? Tell them this!
Why should I hire you? How would you respond? That is what employers are essentially asking you as you apply and interview for jobs. To establish yourself as a viable candidate for a position, you must possess the appropriate professional skills and experience. One challenge during the job search process is that many of the other candidates will have equal, if not better, qualifications than you. How can you set yourself apart? Consider going beyond the usual answers and integrating information based on your personality and values. This information can be a difference maker that will allow you to illustrate, unlike any other candidates, how you will be a fit for the position and organization.
read moreInterviewing? Your answer to this question should wow them!
What do you know about our company? It’s a common question that potential employers ask, especially in job interviews. They ask it for a variety of reasons. Some employers want to make sure you have an adequate understanding of the company within the context of the position to which you are applying. Others ask it to see if you’ve done your research. And there are some employers that ask it to see how much you care about obtaining the position in question, as your answer will speak volumes about the effort you are putting forth to secure the job and illustrate how you are a fit. As a former recruiter, I can tell you that many candidates fell short of my expectations when answering this question. Based on my experience, I feel it’s important to share (in my opinion) the worst answers you can give, a better option, and a great answer that will set you apart from the other candidates. read more
Safety tips for networking meetings.
An important part of career strategy is networking, which is connecting with people to share information relevant to a certain topic, professional industry, or career field. While it’s great to make an effort to connect with others, you must do so in a safe way. Even if you have some familiarity with a new network contact, keep in mind that your experience with that person is limited and you may not be familiar with his/her character. With some planning, you can avoid a situation where you fear for your physical safety or feel uncomfortable given a certain conversation. The following are ways that you can network professionally in a safe and effective way. read more
A simple thank you can help you stand out!
A secret weapon for job search and professional development isn’t so secret; it’s the thank you note! As fast as life moves these days in the digital age, a simple thing like saying thank you can help you stand out. For your thank you to be received in a positive way, make sure it’s timely, customized, and sincere. read more
A reference will always say something nice about you, right? Wrong!
Each company or organization invests significant resources into new hires, and the act of checking references is one way to gain critical information about a candidate before sending out that offer letter. Although a candidate can look great on paper, in reality that person may not be a fit with a company’s professional needs or culture. By checking professional references, potential employers connect with people that will vouch for a candidate’s qualifications and even character. Selecting and submitting a reference can enhance or damage your candidacy. As a former recruiter, I encountered quite a few references that said negative things about the candidates in question. Their feedback absolutely influenced my hiring decisions, and not in a good way. Here are some tips about how you can ensure that your references will help you get the job! read more
Ring…Hello? Here’s why you should hire me!
Congratulations! You’ve secured a phone interview for a job that really interests you. To make the most of that opportunity, it’s important to realize that not all interviews are equal and there are specific things you can do to effectively prepare. For a phone interview, it’s critical to identify unique opportunities and anticipate challenges in the areas of technology, connection, and the environment. read more
Interviewing via Skype? Check out these watch-outs and best practices!
The hiring process is evolving in many ways, especially as technology changes the way we live our lives and conduct business. Many companies and organizations are integrating technology into their hiring practices and featuring Skype interviews as part of the candidate selection process. While in-person and Skype interviewing share many best practices, there are critical differences that you must be aware of as you approach your cyber interview experience. Environment, presentation, and technology are all factors that warrant consideration as you prepare for and execute your Skype interview. read more
You need to answer this question in an interview, even if they don’t ask it!
Whether you are in the midst of a job search that involves interviewing for multiple opportunities or suddenly get a call from a recruiter who wants to talk to you about a specific position, there is one question that you should be prepared to answer. Different people may ask it in different ways, but the core of the question is the same. Consider what employers want and need to know, particularly during the interview process. Their collective goal is to determine if you are the candidate that will deliver the most value to the organization if hired for the position. To figure that out, they will in some way, shape, or form, ask you the following question. “Why should we hire you?” read more
This is one of the best questions to ask in an interview, if you do it right!
While it’s important to anticipate and understand the questions a potential employer may ask you in an interview, it’s just as critical to prepare your own for the hiring manger. If you do your research, the following question can be a game changer. Read on to learn about the question, how to ask it most effectively, and how you will benefit from the experience. When asked thoughtfully, you will impress the interviewer and gain valuable information that you can use to enhance your candidacy. read more